The Government has responded to the recommendations proposed in the Electricity Price Review (EPR). MBIE is progressing a number of work streams to deliver on the response. Other agencies, particularly the Electricity Authority, also have a key role.
Progress was impacted by COVID-19 and associated resource constraints but all work streams are under way. This page sets out progress.
The dashboard below outlines progress towards key work streams led by the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment. The Electricity Authority is leading a number of other work streams.
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EPR found that smaller consumers struggle to make their voice heard and influence the electricity sector. The obstacles include the sector’s complexity, consumers’ lack of resources, and cultural differences and language barriers.
Government has agreed to establish the Consumer Advocacy Council to be the trusted, credible, authoritative and independent advocate for residential and small business electricity consumers. Its role will be to advocate on behalf of these consumers by providing evidenced-based advocacy on policy and regulatory consultations, and in decision-making processes. Funding was announced in August 2020 as part of a $17 million budget package for consumer advocacy and energy hardship.
The Council Chair was announced in July 2021 and the recruitment of the other Council members are expected to be announced later this year.
Chair of Consumer Advocacy Council announced(external link) – Beehive press release
All appointments are subject to approval of the relevant Ministers and the usual appointments process. The Council’s Terms of Reference is also subject to government approval. A Secretariat to support the Council is also being established.
Electricity Price Review – recommendation A1 [PDF, 854KB](external link)
MBIE’s Energy Hardship Update is our regular e-news about efforts to reduce energy hardship in New Zealand. Visit the Energy Hardship Update webpage to read past issues and subscribe to receive future issues.
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The causes of energy hardship extend beyond the electricity sector, and the solutions require joint action. Government has agreed to establish an Energy Hardship Expert Panel to recommend policy priorities and actions to alleviate energy hardship in New Zealand. Government is also establishing an Energy Hardship Reference Group to provide a forum to share information and encourage coordination across industry, NGOs and government agencies. Funding was announced in August 2020 as part of a $17 million budget package for consumer advocacy and energy hardship.
Work continues on drafting the terms of reference, membership and establishment process for both groups. The Minister of Energy and Resources (in consultation with the Ministers for Housing, Social Development, Commerce and Consumer Affairs and Child Poverty Reduction) will determine the final make-up of the Expert Panel and its terms of reference. Establishment of both groups is targeted for mid 2021.
Electricity Price Review – recommendation B1 [PDF, 854KB](external link)
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MBIE is working to develop an agreed definition of energy hardship, and associated indicators, to measure energy hardship over time. This will also assist with identifying those in energy hardship and assessing the effectiveness of initiatives to address energy hardship. A discussion document outlining the proposed definition and indicators will be published and open for feedback soon. This consultation will be open for six weeks. Please email definingenergyhardship@mbie.govt.nz if you would like to be notified when the consultation opens.
To support future analysis, MBIE is working with the Electricity Authority, the Electricity Retailers’ Association of New Zealand, electricity retailers and Stats NZ to make arrangements for key electricity usage data to be included in the Integrated Data Infrastructure (IDI). The IDI is a large research database holding anonymised microdata about people and households in New Zealand.
Electricity Price Review – recommendation B2 [PDF, 854KB](external link)
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This initiative aims to progressively link and expand existing support services to establish a nationwide network of organisations offering credible, independent, electricity-specific advice and support services to those in energy hardship. A separate fund, sitting alongside this network, will assist households in energy hardship become more energy efficient.
The $17 million consumer advocacy and energy hardship budget package announced in August 2020 includes funding for the Support for Energy Education in Communities (SEEC) Programme that has been established to deliver community-level energy education to help households in need. The first round of pilot initiatives is underway.
More information about the SEEC Programme, how to apply and recipients of the first funding round
Another relevant 2020 budget announcement is a $28 million fund to trial renewable energy technology for public and Māori housing to test new and innovative ways to make energy affordable for people.
More information about renewable energy funding for Māori and public housing
Electricity Price Review – recommendation B3 and B4 [PDF, 854 KB]
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The EPR found that prompt payment discounts (PPDs) are excessively high and not cost reflective. They cause additional hardship for those that can least afford it, and they contribute to customer confusion when comparing prices.
The Minister of Energy and Resources wrote an open letter in November 2019 to retailers setting out concerns with PPDs and the intention to revisit the EPR recommendation to prohibit them in six months. A follow up letter was sent to retailers in July 2020 asking for information as input to revisiting this. The Electricity Authority has initiated monitoring to collect and analyse data from retailers on early payment discounts and late payment penalties. This analysis will inform the Ministry’s consideration of appropriate next steps to address the EPR findings and recommendations. The Minister has previously made it clear that regulation to address the EPR’s findings on PPDs remains an option.
Electricity Price Review – recommendation B7 [PDF, 854KB](external link)
EPR recommended that the government establish mandatory minimum standards that distributors, retailers and others must meet when providing electricity or related services to vulnerable and medically dependent consumers. The Electricity Authority should monitor and enforce the standards.
The Electricity Authority has developed new Consumer Care Guidelines, which take effect from 1 July 2021, that replace the existing arrangements for vulnerable and medically dependent consumers. This work forms the first phase of progressing this EPR recommendation, and MBIE officials are liaising with the Electricity Authority. More information can be found on the Electricity Authority’s website(external link).
Subsequent phases will depend on the outcome of the first phase, and on progress with related EPR activities, particularly the passage of the Electricity Industry Amendment Bill which would clarify the Electricity Authority’s ability to enforce consumer protection measures such as mandatory minimum standards.
Electricity Price Review – recommendation B6 [PDF, 854KB](external link)
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EPR recommended government should issue a government policy statement (GPS) to the Electricity Authority that should shape its preparation of new guidelines for setting transmission prices. Consideration of a possible GPS is paused while the Electricity Authority progresses its Transmission Pricing Methodology (TPM) work programme. MBIE is monitoring TPM progress and evaluating whether there is need to issue a GPS.
EPR also recommended government should issue a GPS to the Electricity Authority to guide it through its reforms to distribution pricing. MBIE is evaluating the need for action given the high profile of distribution pricing reform in the Authority’s work programme.
Electricity Price Review – recommendation E1 and E2 [PDF, 854KB](external link)
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The EPR considered that the Commerce Commission lacks sufficient powers to address certain future issues identified in the regulation of distributors. The EPR’s recommendation does not address any significant or pressing problems but is aimed at making the regime more flexible for the future. Providing such flexibility needs to be balanced against the certainty that the current economic regulation regime provides.
Before progressing changes, further policy work is required, including the development of clear policy rationales and an assessment of alternatives to the EPR’s recommendation. The policy work also needs to be balanced against other priorities in the economic regulation policy area. MBIE will report back to Ministers once the background policy work has been undertaken.
Electricity Price Review – recommendation E4 [PDF, 854KB](external link)
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Government has agreed to progress amendments to the Electricity Industry Amendment Act 2010 to address areas identified for improvement in response to EPR findings and recommendations.
These include:
The Government also proposes to provide a regulatory backstop to ensure timely action by industry and the Electricity Authority on matters relating to specific EPR recommendations improving the wholesale and retail markets.
The full details are set out in the following documents:
December 2019 Cabinet paper [PDF, 1.7 MB]
Regulatory Impact Analysis [PDF, 4.2 MB]
MBIE is working with the Parliamentary Council Office to draft the Bill. It is expected that the Bill will be ready for introduction into the House in the second half of 2021.
Electricity Price Review – recommendation F1, F2, F3 and A1 [PDF, 854KB](external link)
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The EPR found that the Low Fixed Charge (LFC) regulations are poorly targeted and result in a number of unintended consequences. The EPR recommended that the regulations should be phased out because they worsen energy hardship for some households and promote inefficient choices for new technologies, such as rooftop solar and electric vehicles. They also increase pricing complexity and confusion, making it harder for consumers to shop around for the right electricity plan.
Government acknowledges the EPR’s findings on LFCs, but is mindful of the impacts a phase-out may have. MBIE has engaged with industry and consumer groups to better understand the likely impacts, and to design a phase-out mechanism that balances ensuring a just transition with taking meaningful steps to reduce the harm the regulations create. Government understands the industry would like certainty on a decision in mid 2021 to allow sufficient time to develop and implement new pricing systems. This date will be kept in mind, however, there is no absolete deadline for when a decision needs to be taken.
Electricity Price Review – recommendation F4 [PDF, 854KB](external link)
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The EPR recommended that government should review the compliance framework in the Electricity Industry Act 2010 and related enforcement regulations to bring them up to date with best practice. The existing framework dates back more than 20 years and is based on contracts between industry participants that were incorporated into the regulatory framework when self-regulation ended in 2003. It has undergone only relatively minor changes since then. The EPR proposed MBIE complete a review and recommend any changes needed to make the compliance regime consistent with best regulatory practice, to ensure it continues to serve consumers well into the future.
MBIE is identifying issues with the current framework, drawing on the EPR findings and submissions, and discussions with the Electricity Authority and the Rulings Panel. MBIE is also exploring compliance arrangements in other relevant sectors such as gas and telecommunications. MBIE is undertaking targeted consultation with affected parties regarding the identified issues and possible options to address them, as input to its advice to the Minister in response to the EPR findings and recommendation.
Electricity Price Review recommendation F3 [PDF, 854 KB]
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EPR recommended government explore new institutional arrangements in the energy sector. This reflects the importance of fit for purpose energy institutions in facilitating the transition to a low-carbon economy. EPR did not identify any major concerns with the existing arrangements.
Improving co-ordination between regulatory agencies is the current focus. The Ministry is engaging with the Electricity Authority, Gas Industry Company, Commerce Commission and Energy Efficiency and Conservation Authority to improve coordination, including through the Council of Energy Regulators.
Preparation of the government’s Emissions Reduction Plan under the Climate Change Response Act and the development of an Energy Strategy also provide opportunities, and strengthen the need, for greater coordination across government.
Electricity Price Review – recommendation G3 [PDF, 854KB](external link)
EPR recommended that government review and amend building performance regulations and programmes to improve the energy efficiency of new and existing buildings.
The Building for Climate Change programme is on track to deliver the Building and Construction sector component of the Emissions Reduction Plan. Ministers formally launched the programme in 2020 with a statement of intent setting out the strategic direction. The programme is currently working on the sector’s part of the Emissions Reduction Plan.
Building a more sustainable construction sector - Beehive media release(external link)
In April 2018, the Minister of Energy and Resources commissioned an independent review into New Zealand’s electricity market. This was because electricity prices, especially for residential consumers, increased faster than inflation for many years, putting pressure on household budgets. In comparison, prices faced by commercial and industrial customers remained relatively flat.
Such reviews are not new. Since the 1970s, New Zealand has reviewed its electricity sector roughly every decade – each time substantial changes have been made to improve or correct the sector’s performance. In the 1980s and 1990s, the sector was privatised to improve commercial performance, and a light-handed regulatory regime was developed. By the 2000s, concerns about industry performance and self-governance arrangements resulted in further improvements being made, including developing new regulations and improving market competition to restrain retail prices to efficient levels.
However, the 2018-19 review was unique as it addressed the need for electricity prices to be fair and affordable, not just efficient or competitive. Another novel element was the review’s focus on the consumers’ point of view and their say in the direction of the sector.
This review also considered how to future-proof the sector and its governance structures to help ensure the electricity sector functions well during New Zealand’s transition away from carbon-based fuels – a consideration that will become increasingly important as electricity meets more of New Zealand’s energy needs, and as new technologies are adopted.
As energy production and consumption is such an integral part to New Zealand’s economy, this review was of great interest to the industry and the public.
The final report as part of the Electricity Price Review was delivered to the Minister of Energy and Resources in May 2019. It contains 32 recommendations related to consumers, industry, and regulation and technology.
PDF, 854KB, 79 pages
An overview of the Electricity Price Review’s final report and proposed responses to its 32 recommendations.
PDF, 277KB, 27 pages
Cabinet paper providing a report back on progressing the Electricity Price Review’s recommendations.
PDF, 1.7MB, 25 pages
For general enquiries email us at energymarkets@mbie.govt.nz
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Implementing the Electricity Price Review: Dashboard - June 2021 [PDF 256KB]